Paper-hanging apparatus



(No Model.)

- W. W. DAVIS. PAPER HANGING APPARATUS.

No. 529,249. Patented Nov. 13. 1894 UNITED STATES PATENT Qrrrcn.

WILLIAM WALLACE DAVIS, OF WOODFORD, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CORNELIUS E.FREY, OF SANGO, TENNESSEE.

PAPER-HANGING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 529,249, dated November13, 1894.

Application filed July 19, 1894. Serial No. 517,993. (No model.)

To-aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM WALLACE DAVIS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Woodford, in the county of Montgomery and State ofTennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Paper-HangingApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to paper-hanging apparatus and has for its objectsto lessen the labor and expense of paper hanging and' facilitate theapplication of paper to walls and ceilings with swiftness and precision.

The invention consists in a paper-supporting frame of peculiarconstruction and in the combination therewith of certain attachments toconstitute a convenient apparatus for use in applying paper-hangings towalls and ceilings that are either straight or which present surfaces ofvarying angles or curvature, as hereinafter more particularly set forth.

In the annexed drawings illustrating the invention-Figure 1, is aperspective of the main frame or principal portion of my improved paperhanging apparatus, with its lower 'socketed end in section and engagedwith a supporting rod or handle. Fig. 2, shows the main paper-hangingframe provided with an elbow attachment to facilitate the application ofpaper to a vertical wall or to surfaces of varying angles. Fig. 3 showsthe paper-hanging frame provided with detachable and adjustable areshaped bars for applying paper to arched ceilings and other curvedsurfaces. Fig. 4, is a perspective of a knockdown or detachablyconstructed stand adapted to afford a firm support for the vertical rodor handle of the paper-hanging frame and allow the workman to use hisbrush with both hands.

The paper-hanging frame or support comprises two parallel bars 1 thatmay be arranged about twenty-five inches apart and each made, say,twenty inches long by one inch wide and of suitable thickness. Thesebars 1 are preferably made of wood and cov-- ered on the upper side withcloth or felt 2, or other suitable material, to prevent scratching ormarring the paper. To the under side of each bar 1 and near its oppositeends are secured spring arms 3 composed of flat steel and each reverselycurved at its ends to furnish the required elastic support for the framebars. At their lower ends the spring arms 3 converge and are secured inany convenient manner to a centrally located head 4 arranged below theparallel frame bars 1 and at a right angle to said bars. This head 4 maybe composed of metal and is, preferably, about four or five inches inlength. In its lower end is a socket 5 into which a supporting rod orhandle 6 may be inserted.

In using this device for holding or supporting a strip of paper incontact with the ceiling of a room in position for proper use of theusual brush, the paper is first to be cut into the required lengths toextend across the ceiling and with sufficient surplus to lap onto thewalls at each end. Each strip of paper is supplied with paste and foldedonto itself from both ends, equally, being first provided on its selvagewith a mark at a point midway its length. The ceiling should beaccurately measured lengthwise and 'at the middle of one side a mark,say, two feet long should be made to indicate the position that must betaken by the central mark on the first strip of paper. The strip is tobe applied by starting from thecenter of the ceiling on one side andbrushing each way. After the strip of paper has been supplied with pasteand folded onto itself fror'n each end toward the center it is then laidacross the bars 1 of the paper hanging frame with the selvage projectingover one end of the frame. The paper may now be unfolded and its endsallowed to hang down on each side as the frame, is raised by its handle6 into contact with the ceiling. The paper hanging frame will be movedto such position that it will have one end toward and near the side wallof the room at the point where the hanging is to commence, and care mustbe taken to see that the mark on the selvage is brought in line with themark on the ceiling. The frame is then to be pressed upward against theceiling and slightly outward against the wall so that the selvage willlap down onto the wall; and the operator will then take a long handledbrush in one hand, while he holds the paper hanging frame in the other,and will brush one end portion of the paper outward from the frame andacross the ceiling in the usual manner. The frame may then be loweredand the brush applied to run the other portion of the paper across theceiling. The succeeding strips of ceiling paper will be applied in thesame manner as the first one, each strip being marked on its seivage,midway the length of the strip to serve as a guide in applying thecenter portion of the strip onto the central line of the ceiling. Papermatching figures are from ten to twelve inches apart and as the paperhanging frame is a little over two feet across there will always beseveral matching figures in the field of the frame and if properlymatched in the center the paper is bound to go straight for the rest ofthe way to its opposite ends. When the paper is laid across the framebars 1 it will tend to bag just a little but under the upward pressureof the rod or handle 6, acting through the spring arms 3, the bars 1 areforced outward or away from each other thus stretching the papersufficiently to prevent bagging where it is applied to the wall orceiling.

If the ceilings or walls of an apartment present curved surfaces theframe bars 1 maybe bridged by arcs 7 each composed of two flat steelpieces arranged to slide adj ustably on each other. These arcs 7 mayeach be about one inch wide and each arc piece is hinged to a clip 8detachably secured to the frame barsl near their opposite ends. Theconstruction of the arcs 7 in sliding sections having hinged supportspermits a ready adjustment to the varying curvatures of arched ceilings.In using this attachment the paper strips are prepared as alreadydescribed and are then laid across the arcs 7 by which they are to bepressed against the curved wall or ceiling. The clips 8 are detachablyfastened to the bars 1 so that the arcs 7 may be readily re moved whennot required for use.

It is sometimes convenient or desirable to operate the paper hangingframe at an angle to the position in which the handle 6 is most easilyheld. For this purpose a jointed elbow 9 may be arranged intermediatethe head 4 and handle 6 and in connection with each. This elbowcomprises an arm 10 to be inserted in the socket 5 of the head 4t,an arm11 jointed to the arm 10 and having a socket 12 to receive the handle 0,and a sector 13 through which the jointed arms 10 and 11 may be securedin any adjusted position. The sector 13 is secured to one of the arms,as 10, and is passed through a slot in the other arm 11 which isprovided with a set screw 14 for holding the arms at any desired angle.The arms 10 and 11 may each have a length of six or eight inches, moreor less. By means of this device the paper hanging frame may be operatedin various positions or at different angles while its supporting rod orhandle 6 remains vertical or otherwise.

In order to provide a firm support for the paper hanging frame, withoutrequiring its being held by the operator or an assistant, thus givingthe workman free use of both hands, a pedestal or stand 15 may beprovided. Thisstand consists of atriangular top 16 having three or moredetachable legs 17 and provided with a slot or opening 18 into which therod or handle 6 may be inserted. A set screw 19 or other fastening willsecure the handle 6 firmly to the stand or pedestal and permit anynecessary vertical adjustment of said handleand attached paperhangingframe to accord with difierenees in the height of apartments. Thepedestal or stand 15 may have an elevation of about four feet, more orless, and will aiford a firm support to suit any of the variousadjustments or modes of use to which the paper hanging frame is adapted.The rod or handle 6 may, of course, be of any length to suit the heightof an apartment or the space within which the apparatus is to beoperated.

With this paper-ban gin g apparatus may be effected a large saving oftime, labor and expause, the use of scaffolding is entirely avoided, andone man can alone manage the hanging of paper on the walls and ceilingsof large apartments and accomplish the required work swiftly and withperfect accuracy and neatness.

The apparatus is readily detachable in all its parts and may be readilypacked into a small space for storage or transportation.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a paper hanging apparatus, aframe composed of parallel bars, spring arms attached to the under sidesof said bars, a socketed head to which the lower converging ends of saidspring arms are secured, and a handle inserted in the socketed head,substantially as described.

2. In a paper hanging apparatus, a paper supporting frame having springarms, a dentrally located head to which the lower converging ends of thesaid spring arms are secured, a handle for said head, and adjustablearcs carried on the frame and adapted to conform to varyingcurvatures ofarched ceilings, substantially as described.

3. In a paper hanging apparatus, a frame having curved surfaces tosupport the paper, spring arms attached to said frame, a centrallylocated head to which the lower converging ends of the spring arms aresecured and a handle for said head and frame.

4.. In a paper hanging apparatus, the combination with a papersupporting frame having spring arms on its under side, and acentrailylocated head to which the converging lower ends of said spring arms aresecured, of an adjustable elbow detach-ably connected with said head anda handle detachably con nected with the elbow, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a paper hanging apparatus, the combination of a paper supportingframe, spring arms attached to said frame, a socketed head to which theconverging ends of the spring are secured, a handle or rod detachablyconnected with said head and a pedestal or stand in which the said rodor handle may be secured, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM WALLACE DAVIS. [L 8.]

Witnesses:

R. A. GARDNER, R. H. BURNEY.

